North Carolina State University Athletics
Volleyball To End Season in Florida Over Thanksgiving
11/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH, N.C. The NC State volleyball season will come to a close this week in Florida as the team plays its final two matches of the year at Florida State and Miami. The Pack will take on the Seminoles in Tallahassee on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m., before squaring off with the Hurricanes in Coral Gables on Friday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.
Both matches will be broadcast live online via ACC Select. Click here for more information.
State carries a 3-27 (0-20 ACC) record into its final of tour of duty. Lauren Zaniboni, who has led the squad in kills all year long, holds 320, while Alex Smith carries 815 assists. Chrissy Zirpolo posts a team-high 23 service aces, while Nikki Sweet fronts the team in digs with 288. Ashley Wallace’s 98 blocks stand as a high for the group.
The trip will also mark the end of collegiate careers for seniors Andi Bentley, Kasey Rhyne and Wallace.
A defensive specialist from Cary, N.C., and a graduate of Cardinal Gibbons High School, Bentley has left her mark on the Wolfpack volleyball program. She led the team in digs in three of her four years with the Pack and is currently one of only 10 players to compile over 1,000 for her career. She currently sits in ninth-place in school history with 1,120 digs. Bentley has excelled off the court as well, having been named to the All-ACC Academic team twice, while making the Dean’s List in each of her three previous years. She will graduate with a degree in biological sciences.
A defensive specialist from Mount Holly, N.C., Rhyne came to State in the spring of 2005 after a two-year stint at Brevard College. She saw action in 28 matches and compiled 119 digs in her first year with the Pack. Over the past two seasons, Rhyne has served as a pivotal spark off the bench for the red and white. She was named an NC State/Caterpillar Scholar Athlete in 2006 and will graduate with a degree in business management.
A middle blocker from Amherst, Ohio, Wallace has enjoyed a successful career at NC State, improving with each season. She has been a leader on the court for the Wolfpack this year, leading the team in blocks and serving as a valuable offensive weapon. She is a two-time NC State/Caterpillar Scholar Athlete and has been named to the Dean’s List. She will graduate with a degree in biological sciences.
Florida State stands at 14-14 (11-9 ACC) after dropping matches at Clemson and Georgia Tech over the weekend. The Seminoles pose arguably the most dangerous threat from the service in the conference, with three players ranked in the top-seven of the league. Mira Djuric stands first with 79, Ashlee Moon is fifth with 42 and Malorie Wessel places seventh with 27. Brianna Barry is fifth in the ACC with a .332 hitting percentage, while Nikki Baker places sixth in the league for assists per game with 10.99. Summer Weissing’s 4.26 digs per game is eighth best in the conference.
Miami (12-17, 6-14 ACC) has dropped three of its last four bouts. The Hurricanes will host North Carolina on Wednesday night before welcoming State into town. Like Florida State, Miami carries a strong service. Katie Gallagher’s 65 service aces is second most in the ACC, while Cassie Loessberg stands fourth with 56. Loessberg is also fifth in the league for digs per game, averaging 4.90, while Gallagher is seventh in the conference for assists per game with 10.83. Genny Mayhew (3.85 kills per game) and Ciara Michel (1.23 blocks per game) both hold eighth-place rankings in the league for kills and blocks respectively.
